Cole Aldrich flashes a high-wattage smile around the Kansas campus, then shocks his classmates by yanking out his temporary front left tooth. The tooth was knocked out in a victory against Kansas State on Jan. 13. In the offseason Aldrich had surgery to replace the tooth with a permanent implant, but a subsequent infection has delayed its completion until after this season, he says. Meanwhile, Aldrich is all smiles about it.

Sherron Collins had 16 points, freshman Markieff Morris grabbed 15 rebounds and No. 23 Kansas pulled away after a shaky first half to open its national title defense with a 71-56 victory over Missouri-Kansas City on Sunday night.

Sherron Collins had 16 points, freshman Markieff Morris grabbed 15 rebounds and No. 24 Kansas pulled away after a shaky first half to open its national title defense with a 71-56 victory over Missouri-Kansas City on Sunday night.